The iconic snooker game show Big Break is set to make a return, as confirmed by the BBC. Paddy McGuinness and seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry will be hosting the show. The series will feature top snooker stars competing for cash prizes for contestants in a reimagined format.
Expressing his excitement about being part of the show, McGuinness mentioned his delight in hosting alongside the legendary Stephen Hendry. Hendry, a seven-time World Snooker Championship winner, looks forward to bringing back the unique mix of trick shots and entertainment to a new audience, hoping to inspire future snooker players.
Production for the series will commence soon, airing on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer. Details on how and where to watch the show will be announced later.
The return of Big Break follows the recent passing of John Virgo, a prominent figure associated with the show in the 1990s. Tributes to Virgo were paid during the 2026 World Snooker Championships broadcasted on the BBC.
The 22-year-old Chinese snooker prodigy, Wu Yize, clinched the world championship title at the Crucible recently, drawing in nearly four million viewers during his thrilling victory against Shaun Murphy in the final. The BBC aims to capitalize on the renewed interest in the sport.
BBC’s head of Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, Rob Unsworth, expressed enthusiasm for the return of Big Break, stating the revamped show will feature well-known snooker personalities while engaging with the online snooker community. The success of the recent World Championships, with 120 million viewing hours, indicates a promising future for the show.
Alex McLeod, the Commissioning Editor for BBC Daytime, highlighted the return of the show as timely, promising a mix of fun and trick shots with hosts Paddy and Stephen. The show is expected to cater to a broad audience, offering entertainment for families both in real-time and on the iPlayer platform.
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